Tasuki! Tasuki has a character on his body!
Learning of the existence ofTasuki...
...the fifth member of the Suzaku Seven, from Eiken...
...the leader of the mountain bandits...
...the Lady Miaka was then kidnapped by Genro...
...a young member of the bandit gang.
When she learned that Eiken had stolen...
...the leadership of the gang in Genro's absence...
...the Lady Miaka infiltrated the enemy stronghold along with Genro.
Genro recovered the enchanted iron fan...
...with the help of the phantom Tamahome which...
...the Lady Miaka had summoned, which handily defeated Eiken.
''The bandits deeply apologized to the Priestess of Suzaku.''
''The Priestess graciously forgave them...''
Please, is there a person named ''Tasuki'' in here?
If he is, I'd like him to come with me.
Tasuki...?
Eiken, do you know him?
No. Honestly, I don't know who he is.
I know him.
Really?! Tell me!
Okay, but don't get too disappointed.
Tasuki was the name of our old boss, which means he's already dead.
Tasuki's dead...?
Sorry to say this, but you can't bring the dead back to life.
Your Highness!
What'll we do?
Oh, yeah, Genro. Do you want to visit...
...the boss's grave when it gets light?
You probably miss him, too...
Boss...
Now what? If even one of the Suzaku Seven is missing...
...Suzaku won't appear.
And Tamahome will never come back...
Once you find the last three, I'll come home.
Your Highness, what will we do? Without Tasuki...
Yes... But you can't resurrect a dead man.
Um, Boss? You see, I've heard this rumor...
What?
In Choko, to the north...
...there's supposed to be somebody who CAN bring the dead back to life.
What?! Mister, are you serious?!
Well, it's a rumor. I haven't seen it done myself, so...
Then let's go to Choko and check it out!
Miaka!
We have to try it! But, before we leave...
One bowl of rice, please!
Bye, everyone! Stay well!
There they go.
That girl's either totally pure-hearted or a total idiot.
We're sure acting strange because of her.
You'd think we've all forgotten how to act like bandits.
We even fed her!
Forget it. I'm just relieved that you're the boss now, Genro.
The Priestess of Suzaku, huh?
You really wanted to go with her, didn't you?
Don't be stupid. You think I'd turn my back...
...on the boss's wishes and on all you guys?
Besides, I hate girls!
Then I guess this really is for the best.
Miaka, here. River water. It's cold and tastes good.
Thank you.
Were you looking at Tamahome's letter?
Y- Yeah...
Don't worry. You'll be together again soon.
It's a bit further to Choko.
Save your strength and be careful not to get sick.
Poor guy. I'm really feeling sorry for His Highness lately.
Even though he knows you love Tamahome...
...he keeps on caring for you wholeheartedly.
Nuriko... You aren't mad about it?
Well, I'll admit I was shocked at...
...how strongly His Highness felt about you.
But I get the feeling I've lost.
I mean, even if I was a woman, I wouldn't have stood a chance...
...so I'm not angry. Not a bit.
I'm not THAT much of a jealous woman.
I...don't...believe you...
Still, it's true.
Hotohori really does care for me a lot.
I wonder what'll happen to Tamahome.
Will he just stay with Yui like this forever?
Tamahome! Tamahome!
Yui?
Thank goodness you're still here!
I had a dream that you'd gone back to Miaka and was so scared!
Of course I didn't.
When the time comes for me to leave, I'll be taking you with me.
All we can do now is believe in Miaka and wait for her.
You're right...
Lady Yui. Lord Nakago wishes to see you.
Well, I have to go.
I'll have some food prepared for you soon.
Right. Thanks.
Food, huh? I wonder if Miaka's eating right now.
I wonder when I'll get to see your smiling face again.
So, you're saying Tasuki of the Suzaku Seven is dead?
Because of that, the Priestess of Suzaku...
...is headed for the city of Choko in northern Konan.
There are rumors of a person with the power to revive the dead.
It would seem they're encountering a lot of trouble...
...in gathering their seven celestial warriors.
Let them try as hard as they want to.
Okay, maintain your surveillance of them.
Right!
Hey! Outta the way! Outta the way!
What could have driven this city to such a state...?
Miaka! Look at the mirror!
'' Heal''
Does this mean that one of the Suzaku Seven is in this city?!
Do you suppose it's the person with the power we heard about?
Great! This means we kill two birds with one stone!
All right!
Excuse me!
Um, are you okay?
Yes. Forgive me. I was daydreaming a bit.
You sure you're all right? You weren't hurt?
No.
Oh, for heaven's sake.
No matter where our Miaka goes, she always acts like a little kid.
No, no. Not at all.
I think your daughter is very sweet.
Oh, no! It's not like that at all!
- Miaka! - Yikes!
Well, come on! I was fooled twice already!
I wanted to make sure she was a woman!
I am really, really, REALLY sorry about this!
Sorry about this.
It's all right, really. This is my apology to you.
So, where to?
Miss Shoka!
Thank goodness! You've finally come!
This is the one?
She was suffering for months and then suddenly died.
Don't worry. Leave this to me.
She came back to life...
What in the world...?
It's incredible... For months now...
...we've been plagued by a mysterious illness.
It produces fevers that are more painful than death.
People have nicknamed it the demon Shikkonki...
...and doctors have been unable to find a cure.
Shikkonki?
While Miss Shoka can't cure the disease...
...she is able to bring the dead back to life.
While they aren't as healthy as they were in their previous life...
...many prefer to die quickly and be revived...
...rather than live with the pain of the disease.
We've done it, Miaka! Ask her, quick--
Miss Shoka!
Could you please come with us?
There's someone I'd like you to revive!
I'm afraid I couldn't.
I'd love to come with you, really, but...
But I can't leave this city. I can't leave the people here.
Besides that, if I step one foot outside of the city...
...I'll lose my power.
All right, then! We'll bring Tasuki here to you!
We'll just ask Genro and the others if we can take the coffin here.
Looks like a graveyard.
Did we take the wrong road? Let's turn back.
We don't have time for that!
We have to get back there fast and bring Tasuki here...
Miaka! What's wrong?! Speak to me!
I'm all right. My body just feels a little hot...
A fever! Oh, no! We have to get back to the city!
Give us flesh...
We won't let you leave this city...
We will devour your flesh!
Nuriko!
Miaka! Run! Miaka!
REKKA SHI NEN!
I figured this would happen.
Genro?!
I'm coming in! Get down on the ground!
REKKA SHI NEN!
To tell you the truth, I wasn't gonna come...
...but I figured you couldn't do this alone.
Looks like I was right to come and check on you.
Genro...
We talked it over and made Koji the new boss.
We figure our old boss would forgive us.
But why?
You idiot. Haven't you figured it out yet?
Genro's my nickname.
I'M Tasuki. Sorry for tricking you.
What...?! Why didn't you tell us that sooner, you moron?!
Honestly! After all the trouble we've been through!
Didn't have a choice. I had to be the new boss.
Our old one and all the guys wanted me to. Could I have ignored them?
But then Koji and the guys told me to get going.
I see... Thanks for coming.
Now we have the fifth member...
- Miaka?! - Miaka, what's wrong?
Do you suppose...?!
For months now, we've been plagued by a mysterious illness.
It produces fevers that are more painful than death.
You think it's Shikkonki?
Find my horse! We have to get back to the city at once!
Miss Shoka, can't you cure Miaka's illness?
It seems to be that spirit plague we were told about.
There's nothing I can do about that.
What?!
My power is to revive people from death.
If Miaka dies, then I'd be able to help her.
You're saying we should let Miaka die?!
Isn't there any other way?!
I'll be fine...
Miaka.
I'm sure there must be a doctor in this city.
It may not help, but let's try.
This is silk, isn't it?
It's you! It's totally you!
You look so cool! I just knew black was your color!
Lady Yui.
Forgive my intrusion...
...but I just heard something I thought you'd be amused to hear.
The Priestess of Suzaku has contracted a rampant disease.
There's apparently no cure and it seems...
...she'll linger on in great pain until she dies.
Miaka!
Wait, why should you feel anything for her, Yui?
It's only right that this should happen to her.
With Miaka gone, Tamahome will be mine...
Now, wait a minute!
What kind of doctor refuses to treat a patient without examining them?!
No matter how you say it, you've got Shikkonki.
Hold it. Myojuan might be able to cure you.
And where's this guy right now?!
He moved outside of town unexpectedly a year ago and hasn't been back since.
Now get out of here now!
I don't want to get that disease myself!.
Cripes... You quack!
Still, we learned something valuable.
Let's go out and look for this Myojuan guy.
This is tough... Am I going to die?
And we only had two more members of the Suzaku Seven left to find.
What should I do...?
It's all right. Hang in there.
Miss Shoka.
Maybe Miss Shoka is the sixth member...
Fish! Fish! Buy some fresh fish today?
Let go! It's my fish!
She's fighting a bruiser like that for one little fish?
Wow... Even that weak, her appetite still gets her moving.
She's still so cheerful and active... How admirable.
Miss Shoka, you're pale as a ghost.
It's nothing. I'm tired and should go home.
When you're finished, please come back to my house.
Hey!
Got it!
Only a real creep steals food from a sick person!
Miaka!
I suddenly got a lot weaker...
There it is!
Miaka, are you sure you should be running like that?
Cripes! Are you really sick?!
You are completely surrounded! Come out quietly WITH my fish!
I repeat, you are completely surrounded!
Come out quietly with my fish!
Let's check this out.
So many medicines...
Could this man be that Myojuan person we heard about?
Hey! Mister! Are you Myojuan?
If you are, could you examine this girl?
Please! She's very weak from the disease.
Please, mister? I'll even forget about you taking my fish.
It was a really tasty-looking fish, but I'll forget about it.
I gave up being a doctor long ago. Now leave.
What? But you examine animals, don't you?
I don't give a damn about people! Now leave!
Sure, sure, whatever, pal. Man, ask a guy a favor...
Miaka, are you all right?
I can't...move my legs right...
Miaka!
I wonder why he did that. He seemed like a nice person...
Miaka!
Miaka! Hang on!
What're ya doing falling asleep?! Wake up!
Damn it! Isn't there something we can do?!
It's torture for her to live on in that condition.
It's no use. We have to find some way to ease her suffering.
There's only one thing to do.
You must kill her at once.
If I revive her immediately, I can restore her full health.
You really expect us to do that?!
It's okay. I...
I can't look for the Suzaku Seven in this condition.
I want the pain to go away. Please...
If we don't do something, I'll never see Tamahome or Yui again.
Please...
''The Priestess was stricken with the deadly disease...''
''...and was suffering in hellish torment.''
''According to Shoka, the only way to save her was to take her life...''
Would you all please step outside?
- What? - Hey!
I'm going to kill her.
Forgive me, Hotohori.
For giving you such a terrible job to do.
I think I'd like to be stabbed.
Probably because I like yakitori so much.
I'll count '' 1 , 2, 3'' and then you stab me quick, okay?
Once upon a time, Shoka had a lover named Myojuan.
As she faced death alone...
...her belief that Myojuan would return to her sustained her.
It sustained her right up to the very end...
The Lady Miaka now knows very well...
...the pain Shoka feels from her heartbreak.
Next time, '' Battle of Sorrow''.
All they can do is say farewell...